Retinoic acid modulates retinoid X receptor alpha and retinoic acid receptor alpha levels of cultured brown adipocytes

FEBS Lett. 1997 Apr 7;406(1-2):196-200. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00274-3.

Abstract

A novel potential regulatory pathway of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis was recently recognized after identifying retinoic acid (RA) as a transcriptional activator of the uncoupling protein (UCP) gene. Here we provide evidence that the UCP responsiveness to RA in primary cultures of brown adipocytes involves RA receptor alpha (RAR alpha), and show, in the same system and also in CHO cells, that RA down-regulates the steady-state levels of RAR alpha and especially of retinoid X receptor alpha, suggesting autoregulation of the retinoid pathway and therefore supporting the idea of a physiological role for it in controlling the thermogenic capacity of BAT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes / drug effects*
  • Adipocytes / metabolism
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / cytology
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / drug effects*
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism
  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cricetinae
  • Mice
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / drug effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Retinoid X Receptors
  • Transcription Factors / drug effects*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tretinoin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Retinoic Acid
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Retinoid X Receptors
  • Transcription Factors
  • Tretinoin